September Newsletter
It’s been a busy month at GUBC with the start of the new season. Motivated by the many successes of the summer month’s, our committee and athletes have returned to Glasgow excited for the coming year. Here’s an update as to what has been going on at the club this month…
Pre-Season
September started with a bang for the Seniors at GUBC with preseason beginning on the first of the month. We were really excited to have a large group of new first year seniors to the squad this year and they have all joined our squad seamlessly.
A solid shift was put in in the Stevenson gym and on the water, taking advantage of the extra time back in Glasgow before class started. A trip to Loch Venachar at the end of the first week also allowed us to explore new waters before the start of semester.
Freshers
The middle of the month brought about the beginning of the first semester and so freshers week. Equipped with the brightest t-shirts on campus, we had a fantastic couple of days at the GUSA sports fair with huge interest throughout both days.
147 new faces were welcomed to the boathouse on our first taster day. Over the course of the afternoon, multiple bus loads of freshers came to try out erging, using the blades and ultimately having their first outing on the water with our keen senior athletes.
We have recently appointed senior athlete and 3rd year student Angus Steel as our new Novice co-ordinator. Angus is fresh to the role and excited to support our new-start’s in their first year of rowing in the same way he was 2 years ago. Aided by current student helpers, and directed by our coaching team, Angus will help to deliver a programme to our novices with their first goal being competing at Scottish Indoors next month.
Farewell to Paddy Hudson
September sadly saw the departure of our Head Coach Paddy Hudson. Paddy has developed our club hugely in the past 18months and we thank him hugely for his efforts. Paddy has since been appointed as assistant coach at Edinburgh University Boat Club and will take it up following his charity trans-atlantic sail in aid of suicide prevention (www.race4rene.com) . We wish him the all the best in both endeavours.
We are advertising for a replacement in the Head coach role. In the interim, long standing assistant and last year’s Women’s Squad coach Iain Docwra will take up role as Head Coach supported by volunteer men’s coach Fraser Quinn, S&C coach Jonathan Stevenson and our strong network of volunteer Alumni and student coaches.
Looking Forward…
Looking forward to the rest of first semester, the club calendar is filling up quickly.
Our developing senior squads will be racing at Clyde’s 3s this weekend, getting some essential experience on home water before travelling further afield later this year.
Our performance group will be out of the boat house and heading away for a training weekend in preparation for Four’s Head later next month.
Prior to Fours Head, we will be welcoming the full club past and present to our Annual Club Dinner which will take place on the 16th of November in the Hilton, Byres Road. Stay tuned for information about how to get tickets closer to the time.
~Niamh McClure, Member in Charge of Publicity.